An anarchist perspective on democracy and other forms of social structure.


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Artist/Composer: Audioanarchy
Keywords: audio; anarchist; political; democracy; society; government

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Reviewer: ann arky - - March 16, 2008
Subject: The spread of the idea.
The idea of posting the podcast was not to give the definitive word on anarchism, but merely to try to get the word and the ideas behind it discussed by a wider public. Obviously anarchism has many shapes and shades with an underlying theme of no authority over anybody. That is about as crude as it can be described. It will of course continually change as circumstances and those involved continually change. Anarchism must be a living thing and we today cannot predetermine what the problems nor the answers will be, that will up to those trying to build that anarchist society. We can look at some fundamentals that should perhaps be there, free association, voluntary co-operation and mutual aid,based on sustainability plus the afore mentioned absence of authority.

Reviewer: mikel357 - - March 16, 2008
Subject: Interesting listening
An interesting podcast, however the hosts should tell people that this is only ONE type of anarchist view. Anarchy literally means 'no leader', which by definition CAN mean 'majority rule'. So direct democracy can easily be described as being anarchic in form. This is from an american perspective where direct democracy, even democracy itself has been continuously fought against by the federal and even state governments. In Switzerland, direct voting is far less 'reactive'. It isn't just 'yes' or 'no', because the process is deliberative and open. In mohawk societies, democracy was even more deliberative.

That private property be abolished is a socialist maxim, not an anarchic one, so people shouldn't confuse the two. Of course there IS no 'private property', even property rights enshrined by constitutions can be over ridden by their governments. In other words, changes to democratic forms CAN be accomodated by anarchic principles very easily.

I haven't listened to the whole podcast yet, but it will be interesting to see what an anarchic society actually looks like.